NIC Keep-Alive Messages for Low-Power Connectivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for maintaining connectivity and presence with application servers while a portable wireless device is in a low-power state are energy inefficient and can negatively impact reliability due to frequent toggling between standby and active modes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of keep-alive messages transmitted by a Network Interface Controller (NIC) while the device is in a low-power state, using proprietary protocols and encryption, to maintain connectivity and presence with remote application servers, reducing power consumption and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the platform periodically transitions from standby mode to active mode to maintain connectivity, then connectivity and presence with application servers are maintained, but power consumption increases significantly and reliability of standby-to-active transition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the platform into two operational states: a low-power state where the platform remains mostly dormant, and a brief wake period where only essential components (NIC and memory) are activated. This segmentation allows connectivity maintenance with minimal power consumption by activating only the necessary subsystems for brief intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform performs preliminary actions by preparing and transmitting presence data and receiving any pending data during the brief wake period before returning to low-power state. This preliminary action ensures connectivity is maintained without requiring sustained active operation, thereby reducing overall power consumption while preserving reliability.
2Reliability
If the platform periodically transitions from standby mode to active mode to maintain connectivity, then presence data can be transmitted to application server, but the frequency of transitions negatively impacts reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by establishing optimized wake intervals that balance connectivity requirements with reliability concerns. Rather than frequent transitions, the platform wakes at strategically determined intervals sufficient to maintain presence with application servers while minimizing the cumulative time spent in transition states, thereby improving overall transition reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If WoWLAN is used to maintain low power consumption, then power usage is reduced, but only data link (L2 link layer) connectivity is maintained and connectivity to application server is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary approach where the NIC acts as a mediator between the low-power platform state and the network. The NIC maintains wake capability to receive wake-up packets from application servers, serving as an intermediary that allows the platform to remain in low-power state while still enabling bidirectional communication when needed, thus preserving both power efficiency and connectivity reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Generally this disclosure describes methods and systems for conserving energy in a client platform by maintaining connectivity between the client platform and a remote resource when the client is in a low-power state. An example method may include receiving notification that the client platform is transitioning to the low-power state, receiving at least one payload from the client platform, the at least one payload being configured to maintain connectivity with a remote resource while the client platform is in the low-power state, transmitting a packet including the at least one payload and receiving a packet including an acknowledgement.